Whew!

by John Beverly, CBC President 2000

We are finally through with the Ocoee Fat Tire Festival 2000. A lot of work goes into that event, which means a lot people are deserving of a big "thank you". Daisy and Hugh, of course, worked their behinds off to make sure the registration and ride coordination was thorough and complete. Wendy Richardson and Chris Gilligan put on the best games we have ever had at a festival. Chris also brought a huge stereo and blasted music across the mountain. Some liked it and some didn’t, but it helped give the festival a carnival atmosphere. Matt Phillips made his excellent taco salad. Tom Ingledew dedicated his Saturday to picking up the Buck’s Barbecue, driving all the way up to Chilhowee and setting up and serving the food. Kym Flynn did a great job of conducting the technical skills clinic and Kristin Brantley the beginner clinic. And finally the father of the Fat Tire Festival, Bill Rogers, who put all the pieces together and worked with the Forest Service and the sponsors and who made his butt available to be chewed by the angry campground host, who seemed oblivious to the annual festival.

Thanks to Owen Cyclery for bringing out their tent, donating prizes, and having Eric there to fix bikes. And to Suck Creek, East Ridge and Fat Tire Farms for donating prizes, some of which were especially good ones. Thanks to Spindogs for the Cokes and Buck’s Bar-B-Que and Schlotzsky’s for the food. And thanks to Robert Lee and Charles Kerr of the Forest Service for helping get the details straightened out at the last minute. (I’ll have my fax machine fixed before the next one.)

This was the best festival we have ever had. The weather was great. There was a lot of food and prizes and bike riding. It was a great deal for the participants. For $25 you get 4+ meals, a really nice T-shirt, prizes (Sam finally won something), free camping in designated area, and great biking with great people. If you missed this one you really missed a good one. Good enough, in fact, that we had 2 riders all the way from Mexico. They promised to come again next year. We’ll see you there, too. Even if you don’t mountain bike, come up for the games and bring a picnic lunch. Tom Ingledew camped with us and contributed some great pancakes to the breakfast Sunday morning, had a great time and didn’t bring a bike.

We still have one more to go. This Saturday (May 6) is the 3 State 3 Mountain Challenge. The weather so far looks good. This, too, will be a great event. Dawn has worked her tail off to make sure of it. Please plan to ride in this one, or offer to help out with SAGs or sweeps. Don’t miss the Pasta Feast at Schlotzsky’s Friday night from 6-8pm.

We will have a special meeting this coming Tuesday (May 9) at 8:00 at Schlotzsky’s downtown. We are going to celebrate having these two big events behind us and see Dawn Salyer off to the wild wild west. That’s right..we are losing Dawn!! I can’t believe it either! She will be moving to Seattle Washington to seek fame and fortune. Maybe she can bring back some of that Raineer or Olympia when she comes to visit. If you want to get her a "going away present", she’ll need rain gear, rain tires and a couple of big thick towels to dry off after her rides.

We are going to miss "Supergirl biker", like most of us ever saw her anyway, since she was always 2 miles ahead and up the mountain when we’re halfway. Heck, I only saw her at the meetings. We really are going to miss her, when the next century rolls around. She has these events down to a science. We’ll be calling her and asking a lot of questions when the 2 for 1 Century comes up this fall.

Everyone come and ,relax have a cold drink and a Schlotzsky’s pizza and give Dawn a good farewell. We’ll be awarding the winner of the the pancake contest as well and there will be a few prizes for various other things as well. DOOR Prizes too! ... ooohhh boy!

Feel free to call me at 510-9593 or e-mail at CHATTBIKE@aol.com.

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